Reblogged from carissamason

A Splash of sun colored the normally rainy Auburn, WA: a sacred sight indeed! Equally sacred was the Honda Civic Tour concert of that night! (My Chemical Romance AND Blink 182?? Hell Yes!) Blink 182 fans chatted in queue about  the thrill of seeing the  post-hiatus band perform. Would they open with an oldie? A new track? Could this be their last tour? And how would Blink chose to top off the night’s performance? Buzzing with anticipation, the line rapidly filled into the venue as doors opened. Upon entering the quasi-theme park amphitheater, I noticed the killjoy colors shine through conspicuously. There were even home made fan shirts with MCR lyrics and references that dated back to the Sweet Revenge days! My Chem fans definitely know how to show their adoration.

The opening bad Rancid impetuously tore up the stage with ripping guitar chords and a pulsing aurora of punk party. Though singer Armstrong  soliloquized to the crowd, “ I wish we could play for you all night!”  Rancid’s act closed and the stage decked out for MCR.

And thus MCR executed their art, hitting songs from all four amazing albums. It shocked me how the one solitary piano note that kicks off Welcome To The Black Parade can send an entire crowd into a screaming frenzy! Gerard routinely raised the crowds hands into the air practically every song for clapping, waving, fist pumping, and any other hand motion the mind can conceive. He belted, screamed, and serenaded  the crowd with his demonically angelic voice, demanding us all to raise our hands as he cried: “guns, love, nuclear warfare. Only one of these doesn’t kill, figure it out.” Then guitars burst into the first beautifully haunting  notes of S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W while the crowd beat the air with their hands in sync and turned into a massive pulsing heart.  

This was without a doubt a fucking kickass experience. Gerard showed the world the true passion of My Chemical Romance fans by uniting the entire audience over Helena while:  

Frank Iero was a beast who murdered the guitar.
Mikey rocked out with some damn awesome bass beats.
And Ray fiercely strummed away aflame with passion.

Auburn’s compliment of the night from Gerard way was that, despite having three central whirlpool moshpits, we managed to reign as the nicest city on tour thus far. Holding on to this title, the crowd enthusiastically followed what I call The Gerard Way Rules Of Mosh:
“1.) Don’t be an Asshole.”
 
(Blunt. True. ‘nuff said.)

“2.) If some one falls down, immediately pick them up.”

“3.) Have Fun.”

Rules we can all agree on about  life as well.

But the following words of Gerard somehow immaculately captured the venue’s audience and life itself as it still rings through my ears currently:
“You are all Fucking Beautiful In Your Own Way.”

At last, Blink 182 dawned the stage with blasts from the past mixed with their latest tracks. An art show lit up the stage with laser lights, strobe lights, and nostalgic flip-book images on stage and on screen. The best entertainment, however, laid in the comedic conversations between Tom and Mark that rose a great guffaw from the audience every time.  I understand now where Blink gets its name- the dazzling lights and blazing performance leaves you blinded and rubbing your eyes, blinking in awe. And a roaring drum solo from Travis Barker-right before Blink’s encore- as he hung 50 feet in the air on a crane that hovered over the pit crowd? Yupp. That just happened.

It all happened. It feels like a dizzying dream, but it happened.

I would like to thank Rancid, My Chemical Romance, and Blink182 (although it was unfortunate that the bands didn‘t get together to play a song, that would have blown my mind). And an especially giant T H A N K  Y O U to EVERYONE ay the Honda civic tour & Honda Civic Tour Blog contest for the opportunity. And to my sister who prophesized this day.

For without all of them, my sister Brandi and I would never have experienced such an exciting finale, as the crowd simultaneously cheered, screamed, and clapped their hears out in unity of one thing.

Music.

Good. Fucking. Music.